“There are many things to explain. Will you be good enough to leave the room, sir?”
“Will you please stay, Mr. Anstruther?” said Volna quickly.
“Volna, I must see you in private. For your mother’s sake. Now, sir.”
“If Mr. Anstruther goes, I go,” she declared.
His face grew as dark as a thundercloud. “You forget yourself, Volna. Does this gentleman know——”
“That we have been betrothed? Oh, yes. It was Mr. Anstruther who saved me from the police at Bratinsk and afterwards. He naturally has my entire confidence. I know him for a friend, and he was about to start with me now to see you and get the truth from you about my mother’s arrest.”
“You are making a very unfortunate admission which may very greatly affect him.”
I couldn’t stand this. “Be good enough to leave me out of the question for the moment, Colonel Bremenhof,” I said. “I think I have shewn you that I know how to take care of myself.”
“Have you dared to arrest my mother?” asked Volna again.
“Madame Drakona is not arrested at all. Those who are concerned in the matter of this national trouble wish to ask her certain questions which she will, I hope, be able to answer quite satisfactorily.”